2019 2019 2022 - ON MIGRATION AND ACTION PLAN ACTION AND MIGRATION ON STRATEGJIA KOMBËTARE THE NATIONAL STRATEGY STRATEGY NATIONAL THE PËR MIGRACIONIN DHE PLANI I VEPRIMIT 2019 - 2022 THE NATIONAL STRATEGY ON MIGRATION AND ACTION PLAN 2019 - 2022 The opinions expressed in this document do not necessarily reflect the views of the International Organization for Migration (IOM). The designations employed and the presentation of material throughout the document do not imply expression of any opinion whatsoever on the part of IOM concerning legal status of any country, territory, city or area, or of its authorities, or concerning its frontiers or boundaries. IOM is committed to the principle that humane and orderly migration benefits migrants and society. As an intergovernmental organization, IOM acts with its partners in the international community to: assist in the meeting of operational challenges of migration; advance understanding of migration issues; encourage social and economic development through migration; and uphold the human dignity and well-being of migrants. ______________________ Translation and printing of this document was made possible through the support provided by IOM Albania under the project “Supporting the Development of a Migration Policy in Albania” funded by the IOM Development Fund (IDF). Publisher: International Organization for Migration – Mission in Albania Rruga Brigada VIII, P. LID Kati III, Ap. 303 Tirana, Albania Tel.: +355 42257836-7 Fax: +355 4225 7835 Email: [email protected] Website: http://www.albania.iom.int This publication has been issued without formal editing by IOM. TABLE OF CONTENTS LIST OF ACRONYMS 4 ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS 6 PART I. STRATEGIC CONTEXT 7 Introduction and purpose of the strategy 7 Policy, Legal and Institutional Framework, Achievements, Challenges and Lessons 12 Learned PART II. VISION, POLICY GOALS AND SPECIFIC OBJECTIVES OF THE STRATEGY 34 PART III SPECIFIC OBJECTIVES OF THE STRATEGY AND MAJOR PRODUCTS 35 Part IV FINANCIAL RESOURCES 39 Part V ACCOUNTABILITY AND MONITORING 42 ACTION PLAN ON THE NATIONAL STRATEGY ON MIGRATION 2019 – 2022 43 3 The National Strategy on Migration and Action Plan 2019 – 2022 LIST OF ACRONYMS ADISA Agency for Delivery of Integrated Services Albania AIDA Albanian Investment Development Agency ASPA Albanian School of Public Administration AVRR Assisted Voluntary Return and Reintegration BoA Bank of Albania DBM Department of Border and Migration DPA Department of Public Administration DTM Displacement Tracking Matrix ERF Electronic Register of Foreigners IBM Integrated Border Management INSTAT Institute of Statistics IOM International Organization for Migration IPMG Integrated Policy Management Group IWG Inter-Institutional Working Group MARD Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development MC Migration Counter MEFA Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs MiGoF Migration Governance Framework MoESY Ministry of Education, Sports and Youth MoFE Ministry of Finance and Economy MoHSP Ministry of Health and Social Protection MoI Ministry of Interior MoJ Ministry of Justice MoTE Ministry of Tourism and Environment NDA National Diaspora Agency NES National Employment Service NSDI National Strategy for Development and Integration RCC Regional Cooperation Council SDGs Sustainable Development Goals SII Social Insurance Institute SMD State Minister for Diaspora SOPs Standard Operating Procedures TCN Third Country National UAM Unaccompanied minor UNHCR United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees VET Vocational Education and Training VoT Victim of Trafficking 4 The National Strategy on Migration and Action Plan 2019 – 2022 Dear friends, colleagues and collaborators The National Strategy on Migration and its Action Plan 2019-2022 represents an important step towards the accomplishment of the national and international commitments of the Government of Albania in the field of migration. The need to have such document came as a result of the need for a cross-sectorial approach towards migration governance, to address the challenges and to maximize as much as possible the impact of migration to the development of the country. Its development also addresses the European Commission’s recommendation in 2018, which required Albania to consider migration as a core issue and to develop a cross-sectorial migration strategy. The National Strategy on Migration, inspired by global migration processes as much as Albania’s EU integration process, aims to provide, until 2022, a complete and comprehensive response to the challenges and opportunities of migration in Albania’s context. It aims to provide a unifying framework of shared principles, commitments and understanding between state and non-state actors on all aspects of migration, including humanitarian, development and human rights dimensions as well as improve institutional co-operation and coordination on migration. Albania is one of the countries that has set the Agenda 2030 as part of its national priorities and has welcomed the Global Compact on Migration and its objectives. This Strategy contributes to the successful achievement of nine Sustainable Development Goals. This document comes after a long and intensive process, supported by the International Organization for Migration (IOM), during which it went through an extensive process of consultations. The document is fully harmonized with a variety of strategic documents, which touch upon some aspects of migration governance, such as: Strategy on Integrated Border Management (2016 – 2020), National Strategy for Social Protection and Social Inclusion (2015 – 2020), National Strategy for Development and Integration (NSDI) 2016 – 2020 and National Strategy for Diaspora (2018 – 2024). The National Strategy on Migration is the roadmap for the activity and context in the field of migration for the next four years, it presents the vision, specific goals and objectives, key products, financial resources and institutional coordination and monitoring mechanisms. Now we all have the obligation to implement the activities so that this document can be applied and implemented accurately. In the capacity of the Chair of the Inter-Institutional Working Group set up by the Prime Minister’s order, I would like to thank the Minister of Interior, Mr. Sandër Lleshaj, for the support in drafting this document, and all our partners of state and non-state agencies, national and international organizations, civil society, academics, business representatives, for their valuable contribution to the drafting of the Strategy, but also for the joint work and efforts to raise the issue of migration governance to a higher level. Sincerely, Rovena Voda Deputy Minister of Interior 5 The National Strategy on Migration and Action Plan 2019 – 2022 ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS This document presents the National Strategy on Migration and Action Plan 2019-2022 of the Republic of Albania, approved by the Council of Ministers by Decision no. 400, dated 19.6.2019 “On the adoption of the National Strategy on Migration and the Action Plan 2019-2022”.* The process for the development of the Strategy was led by the Ministry of Interior, with the support of the International Organization for Migration (IOM) within the framework of the project “Support for the Development of a Migration Policy in Albania” funded by the IOM Development Fund (IDF). For the drafting of this strategy and action plan, an Inter-Institutional Working Group was set up, led by the Deputy Minister of the Interior, Rovena Voda, and composed of representatives of the Ministry of Finance and Economy, the Ministry of Health and Social Protection, the Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs, the Ministry of Education, Sports and Youth and the General Directorate of State Police. The group was later expanded to include representatives from all government entities dealing with migration related aspects. To support the work of the Inter-Institutional working group for the development of the Strategy and Action Plan, IOM engaged a team of international and local experts as below: • Piotr Kazmierkiewicz, International expert for the development of the Strategy; • Teuta Grazhdani, PhD, Local expert for the development of the Strategy; • Prof. Dr. Raimonda Duka, Local expert for the costing of the Action Plan; • Asc. Prof. Dr. Luljeta Ikonomi, Local Legal Expert. Several consultative meetings were held during the Strategy development process with civil society, business representatives, academia and researchers as well as representatives of international institutions and embassies in Albania. * Published in the Official Gazette of the Republic of Albania year 2019 - No. 92. 6 The National Strategy on Migration and Action Plan 2019 – 2022 PART I: STRATEGIC CONTEXT Introduction and purpose of the strategy1 Emigration from Albania Albania remains predominantly a country of emigration. In 2017, Albania had about 1.5 million citizens outside its territory, or about half of the country’s population.2 The majority of migrant communities are present in neighbouring countries, like Italy (448,407) and Greece (356,848)3, although there is a growing trend of Albanians residing in other European Union Member States as well as in North America and Canada. On the other hand, population projections indicate a long-term trend toward achieving a neutral migration balance.4 Emigration from Albania is primarily driven by economic reasons (caused by unemployment and the search for a better life) although other considerations have been prominent, too.5 Two categories of persons